Deer hunting ethics

[blacktailcentral]

Hello roksliders,
I want to know would you punch your tag or continue to hunt. I shot a deer after sitting on him for an hour to finally stand. Shoot, impact, then go to track the deer, track the deer for a mile and a half in a loop, deer initially goes downhill then eventually uphill. Pretty consistent blood with 5-6 decent puddles. I go back the next day morning and evening with a hound to see if we can turn him up. To no avail, we believe the deer is still alive since we didnt turn him up alive or dead. i have 4 days of season left.

 

[Steve300xcw]

What answer are you hoping to get?

 

[blacktailcentral]

What answer are you hoping to get?

Would you punch your tag or continue to hunt

 

[Steve300xcw]

It is your tag. Do what you feel is right

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Me I'd stop hunting (not literally notch the tag). Some states require it by law. As noted do what you feel is right.

 

[Steve300xcw]

How far was the shot?

 

[92xj]

After shooting the deer and tracking blood for over 1.5 miles, then going back the next day and tracking from sun up to sun down with the use of a dog and still no dead deer, I’d go hunt the next day. That’s way more effort than most folks and would lead to a dead deer if it was dead.
This decision is only yours though, do what your gut tells you, not internet people.

 

[blacktailcentral]

How far was the shot?

500 yards, 7prc 3100fps 155gr hammer hunter. Lots of practice in the offseason etc

 

[Swamp Fox]

If you were my guided hunter or hunting my land, you would be punching your tag.

If you're flying solo, it's your conscience, not mine.

 

[Yoder]

I would keep hunting. I don't think there is a wrong or immoral answer. You didn't find the deer. It could still be alive. If not, the coyotes got a good meal. It didn't go to waste, and I would bet its death was still more humane than how most deer normally die. It always sucks wounding an animal, but it sounds like you did everything you could to find it.

 

[92xj]

Hmmm, after seeing that blood picture , I’d go back for another round of searching. That’s a lot of blood in a pool to not be dead. A front high shoulder or low brisket clip put out 1.5+mile drip lines but rarely pooled blood like that, in my experience. If I put in one more solid half day search effort and still nothing, I’d hunt my last few days.

 

[HairyScandinavian]

After shooting the deer and tracking blood for over 1.5 miles, then going back the next day and tracking from sun up to sun down with the use of a dog and still no dead deer, I’d go hunt the next day. That’s way more effort than most folks and would lead to a dead deer if it was dead.
This decision is only yours though, do what your gut tells you, not internet people.

This. OP, you've done your due diligence and if a deer can go that far it's likely not a lethal hit. If you're in guts that deer will lay down and you would have caught up with him at some point, especially with a dog. It's highly likely it's a flesh wound and it'll recover. My vote is quit harassing that poor deer so it can recover and go hunt another one. I've seen blood just like that with a brisket hit on an Aoudad many years ago and he survived.

 

[blacktailcentral]

All the blood looked like this very red, with consistent drops then a few puddles. Then went completely gone.

 

[HairyScandinavian]

All the blood looked like this very red, with consistent drops then a few puddles. Then went completely gone.

Yes, the flesh wound clotted up and stopped bleeding. Exact same thing with the Aoudad and he was seen a few weeks later with an owie on the brisket. Now I've seen animals run out of blood and be dead nearby when it stops as well, but that dog assuming it's not a flake would have found it at that point. I always do a solid wagon wheel with million spokes at the point of last blood when it dries up like that and usually that deer is within 50 yards buried in some nasty thickness.

edit: My take is if I've done my due diligence and not some lazy tracking job and I think they're going to live I'll keep hunting, but if I see guts or other evidence that leads me to believe they're going to die then I'll quit hunting. IME blood trails that dry up end in a dead animal or an animal that lives, since you didn't find a dead one I'm betting this one makes it.

 

[Steve300xcw]

I think i'd probly call this season over

 

[survivalistd]

You know if you hit it or not.

 

[blacktailcentral]

You know if you hit it or not.

Yes i know i hit it, heard the wop and tracked it with myself two other guys and a dog.

 

[survivalistd]

Yes i know i hit it, heard the wop and tracked it with myself two other guys and a dog.

Ok i missed that part

 

[NVUplandHunter]

do you have an idea of where you hit the deer? i feel like thats going to be the thing that gets you in the gut. if you think it was a solid hit and theres a chance he will die, i would personally punch my tag.

I totally understand the want to actually fill the tag have some horns and meat in the freezer. i also understand having that feeling that eats you up after you make a decision and later regret that decision. Weigh it out that way is my suggestion. If you think that hit was lethal with the combo you're shooting, hang it up and get back out there next year. in Cali, youll have the opportunity again.

 

[blacktailcentral]

do you have an idea of where you hit the deer? i feel like thats going to be the thing that gets you in the gut. if you think it was a solid hit and theres a chance he will die, i would personally punch my tag.

I totally understand the want to actually fill the tag have some horns and meat in the freezer. i also understand having that feeling that eats you up after you make a decision and later regret that decision. Weigh it out that way is my suggestion. If you think that hit was lethal with the combo you're shooting, hang it up and get back out there next year. in Cali, youll have the opportunity again.

I think i hit him behind the lungs but before the guts based on blood and how the deer reacted. Everytime i have hit an animal with this combo it doesnt go more than 50 yards with better blood than i had in this instance.